Recommended Related to Eye Health

I've been going blind my whole life. I was born with choroideremia, a rare, inherited disorder that causes gradual vision loss. My doctors diagnosed it when I was 14, after my pediatrician saw small spots in my eyes. I had known I was having trouble seeing, especially at night, but at that age I didn't care. But then the doctors said, “You'll have a hard time in your 20s, a very hard time in your 30s, and you'll be blind by 60."
They were right. I am 49 now and almost completely blind, except for...

Dry warmth. Place a protective layer of fabric
between a warm compress and the skin. Heating pads and hot water bottles can be
used on larger surfaces needing heat.

Moist warmth. Towels or washcloths can be soaked in
warm water, wrung out, and placed on the area. Moist warmth is more effective in relieving muscle pain
than dry warmth.

Commercial hot packs are not recommended. They are often too heavy
and bulky to use near the eye. Also, if a commercial hot pack leaks, chemicals
from the bag might get in the eye.

In this article

This information is produced and provided by the National
Cancer
Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed since it was written. For the most current information, contact the National
Cancer
Institute via the Internet web site at http://
cancer
.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated:
January 25, 2013

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this
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